Aston Martin has added another familiar face to its growing 2026 story, appointing 2009 world champion Jenson Button as a team ambassador on a multi-year deal.
It’s a move that makes sense on more than one level. Button has become one of the most bankable “statesmen” of modern F1 — respected across the paddock, comfortable in front of a microphone, and credible enough that when he turns up in team kit it doesn’t look like a nostalgic photo opportunity. For Aston Martin, heading into a season billed as a reset for the sport, that sort of presence is valuable currency.
Button steps into the role after holding a similar ambassadorial position with Williams in recent years. He retired from full-time racing at the end of 2025, but he hasn’t exactly drifted away from the spotlight, remaining a regular on Sky Sports F1’s coverage in the UK while also keeping his hand in with endurance racing.
What makes the Aston link particularly neat is Honda. Button never raced for the Silverstone outfit in any of its previous guises, but his career is threaded tightly through Honda-powered chapters: the BAR years in the mid-2000s, his maiden grand prix win in 2006, and then later seasons with McLaren that again featured Honda engines. Even outside F1, Button’s Super GT title in Japan came with Honda power.
Aston Martin says Button will support the team across media, commercial and partner relations, travelling globally to represent the organisation at events, partner programmes and media engagements — the modern ambassador brief, in other words, where a recognisable champion helps a team’s message land with sponsors, fans and stakeholders.
But in 2026, with the sport’s new era arriving and Aston Martin embarking on Honda’s new works partnership, there’s also an obvious layer of internal value: Button understands how Honda operates, how it communicates, and what it expects when it commits at factory level. That experience isn’t a substitute for engineering resource, of course, but it can smooth relationships — and relationships matter when the pressure spikes.
“Joining Aston Martin Aramco during such a transformative time in the team and the sport’s history is really exciting for me,” Button said.
“Honda’s new works partnership with the team was a huge draw and I look forward to bringing my years of experience working with them to my new role as ambassador.
“The 2026 season is going to be fascinating and being part of such an ambitious team is a real opportunity. I can’t wait for Melbourne!”
There’s another angle here too: Button and Fernando Alonso share history. They were McLaren team-mates in the latter phase of Button’s F1 career, and Button now arrives at Aston Martin as Alonso continues to spearhead the team’s on-track ambitions. Button isn’t being hired to offer driver coaching in public view, but his presence will inevitably add another experienced set of eyes around a team that’s pushing hard to define itself at the sharp end.
Aston Martin’s managing director of commercial, Jefferson Slack, framed the appointment in exactly those terms — credibility and connection.
“Jenson is one of the most respected figures in modern Formula 1 and we are delighted to welcome him to Aston Martin Aramco as Team Ambassador,” Slack said.
“He brings World Championship pedigree, deep experience with Honda, and an outstanding ability to connect with fans and partners around the world.
“As we enter the sport’s defining new era in 2026, Jenson’s insight and presence will be a valuable asset as we continue building this team for long-term success.”
For Aston Martin, it’s another sign that the organisation is treating 2026 as more than just a regulation change — it’s a statement year. And for Button, it’s a role that fits neatly: close enough to the paddock to matter, broad enough to keep him in the sport’s bloodstream, and tied to a manufacturer relationship he knows as well as anyone.
